Key admits 'socialist streak' comment

When Prime Minister John Key said all New Zealanders had a "socialist streak" it refered to their caring for others, he says.

A US diplomatic cable from mid-2007 said he met with charge d'affaire Glyn Davies and told him National could not adopt conservative policies because a "socialist streak" runs through all New Zealanders.

He reportedly said it was not as strong as in Sweden, but was there.

The cable was released publicly by the Wikileaks website this week.

Key said he could vaguely remember the meeting and said his comment was during a discussion about very right-wing policies.

"I think New Zealand is a very caring country, I think New Zealanders do have a heart."

New Zealanders did not want to see the "overt" signs of poverty here that were present overseas, he said.

Asked if he had a socialist streak he said "absolutely" and pointed to Government programmes to help people during the global recession.

"I'm a product of the welfare state."

Several US diplomatic cables from Wellington address domestic news and political issues.

A cable from mid-2008 claimed then-Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters had proved his worth in the role despite fears his hard-boiled domestic approach would spill over into the role.

Peters was perceived as being anti-immigration and protectionist, it said, and he was described as a "quick-to-anger and bombastic performer; and an enthusiastic baiter of the media".

Peters was not a details man and the cable suggested former Foreign Affairs Minister Phil Goff was behind much of the policy development.

"But ultimately it is [Helen] Clark who commands New Zealand's foreign policy."

In another cable from May 2008, Goff was described as hard-working and sharing Clark's attention to detail.

"After the ambassador's recent dinner hosted in Minister Goff's honour broke up at 10.30pm, Goff returned to his office to work."

The cables also followed Key's promotion through National's ranks. One dated May 2007 said his persona in private meetings differed little from the face he presented to the public.

The cable said Key also spoke positively about then finance minister Michael Cullen and said the only significant economic problem was the brain drain to Australia.

It said Key was a more natural politician than his predecessor. "Key can join a pickup volleyball game with a group of teenagers without looking entirely fake, while Don Brash's public events often were reminiscent of Governor Dukakis's disastrous tank-driving outing."

A number of cables also commented on New Zealand's presence in Afghanistan.

In December 2006, the Singapore Government indicated it would commit personnel to reconstruction efforts there but reportedly wanted to work with the New Zealand team.

That was because of their strong military relationship with New Zealand and past work together in East Timor, it said.